
431-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
HIGHLANDER_U
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on  the  US  motor  vehicle  safety  standards  (FMVSS208).  The  airbag
sensor  assembly  (ECU)  controls  airbag  deployment  based  on  infor-
mation  obtained  from  the  sensors  etc.  shown  in  the  system  compo -
nents  diagram  above.  This  informat ion  includes  crash  severity  and
occupant  information.  As  the  airbags  deploy,  a  chemical  reactio n  in
the inflators quickly fills the  airbags with non-toxic gas to h elp restrain
the motion of t he occupants.
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags. 
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● The  driver  and  all  passengers  in  the  vehicle  must  wear  their  se at  belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the se at belts.
● The  SRS  driver  airbag  deploys  with  considerable  force,  and  can  cause
death  or  serious  injury  especially  if  the  driver  is  very  close  to  the  airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advi ses:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3  in. (50 - 75 mm)
of  inflation,  placing  yourself  10  in.  (250  mm)  from  your  driver   airbag  pro-
vides  you  with  a  clear  margin  of  safety.  This  distance  is  measured  from
the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit  less than 10
in.  (250  mm)  away  now,  you  can  change  your  driving  position  in  several
ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reach ing the ped-
als comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. 
Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10  in. (250
mm)  distance,  even  with  the  driver  seat  all  the  way  forward,  si mply  by
reclining  the  back  of  the  seat  somewhat.  If  reclining  the  back  of  your
seat makes it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a f irm, non-
slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The  seat  should  be  adjusted  as  recommended  by  NHTSA  above,  whil e
still  maintaining  control  of  the  foot  pedals,  steering  wheel,  and  your  view
of the instrument panel controls. 

1954-1. Before driving
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Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving the vehicle
● Use  engine  braking  (downshift)  to  maintain  a  safe  speed  when  driving
down a steep hill. 
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat  and lose
effectiveness. ( P. 233)
● Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or
outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.
● Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of  their body
are not outside the vehicle.
● Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal sp eed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicl e has high-
speed  capability  tires.  Driving  over  85  mph  (140  km/h)  may  resu lt  in  tire
failure,  loss  of  control  and  possible  injury.  Be  sure  to  consult  a  tire  dealer
to  determine  whether  the  tires  on  your  vehicle  are  high-speed  c apability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
● Sudden  braking,  acceleration  and  steering  may  cause  tire  slippa ge  and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle.
● Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes  in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid.
● After  driving  through  a  puddle,  lightly  depress  the  brake  pedal  to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads m ay prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one  side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected. 

2004-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_U
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
Always  set  the  parking  brake  and  shift  the  shift  lever  to  P.  Failure  to  do  so
may  cause  the  vehicle  to  move  or  the  vehicle  may  accelerate  sud denly  if
the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.
■ Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
● Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and ho ld it there for
an extended period of time. 
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
● When driving over bumps on the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc. 
■ If you get a flat tire while driving 
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly  and  gradually  depress  the  brake  pedal to  slow  down  the  vehi-
cle.
● It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
● The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
● The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P. 610)
■ When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain etc. D oing so may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle:
● Engine stalling
● Short in electrical components
● Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle i s flooded, be
sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following:
● Brake function
● Changes  in  quantity  and  quality  of  oil  and  fluid  used  for  the  e ngine,  tran-
saxle, transfer (AWD models),  differential (AWD models), etc.
● Lubricant  condition  for  the  propeller  shaft  (AWD  models),  beari ngs  and
suspension joints (where possible), and the function of all joints, bearings,
etc. 

2304-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U■
Steering lock
After  turning  the  engine  switch  off  and  opening  and  closing  the   doors,  the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
engine switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
■ When the steering  lock cannot be released
■ Steering lock motor overheating prevention
To  prevent  the  steering  lock  motor  from  overheating,  operation  of  the  motor
may  be  suspended  if  the  engine  is  turned  on  and  off  repeatedly  in  a  short
period  of  time.  In  this  case,  refrain  from  operating  the  engine  switch.  After
about 10 seconds, the steering lock motor will resume functioni ng.
■ When “Check SMART Key System” is displayed on the multi-informa tion
display
The  system  may  be  malfunctioning.  Have  the  vehicle  inspected  by   your
Toyota dealer immediately.
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
P. 551
■ Operation of the engine switch
●If  the  switch  is  not  pressed  shortly  and  firmly,  the  engine  swi tch  mode  may
not change or the engine may not start.
● If  attempting  to  restart  the  engine  immediately  after  turning  t he  engine
switch off, the engine may not start in some cases. After turni ng the engine
switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the eng ine.
■ If the smart key system has been d eactivated in a customized setting
P. 637 “Steering Lock active” will be displayed on
the multi-information display. 
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press
the  engine  switch  while  turning  the  steer-
ing wheel left and right. 

2474-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
■Conditions to turn the high beams on/off automatically
●When all of the following conditions  are met, the  high beams will  be turned
on automatically (after approximately 1 second):
• The vehicle speed is approximately 21 mph (34 km/h) or more.
• The area ahead of the vehicle is dark.
• There are no vehicles ahead with headlights or tail lights turned on.
• There are few streetlights on the road ahead.
● If any of the following conditions is met, the high beams will  turn off automat-
ically:
• The vehicle speed is below approximately 17 mph (27 km/h).
• The area ahead of the vehicle is not dark.
• Vehicles ahead have their headlights or tail lights turned on.
• There are many streetlights on the road ahead.
■ Camera sensor detection information
●The  high  beams  may  not  be  automatically  turned  off  in  the  follo wing  situa-
tions:
• When a vehicle suddenly appears from around a curve
• When the vehicle is cut in front of by another vehicle
• When  vehicles  ahead  cannot  be  detected  due  to  repeated  curves,  road dividers or roadside trees
• When vehicles ahead appear in a faraway lane on a wide road
• When the lights of vehicles ahead are not on
● The high beams may be turned off if a vehicle ahead that is usi ng fog lights
without its headlights turned on is detected.
● House lights, street lights, traffic signals, and illuminated billboards or signs
and other reflective objects may cause the high beams to change to the low
beams, or the low beams to remain on.
● The  following  factors  may  affect  the  amount  of  time  taken  for  t he  high
beams to turn on or off:
• The  brightness  of  the  headlights,  fog  lights,  and  tail  lights  of  vehicles
ahead
• The movement and direction of vehicles ahead
• When a vehicle ahead only has operational lights on one side
• When a vehicle ahead is a two-wheeled vehicle
• The  condition of the  road  (gradient, curve, condition of the  r oad  surface,
etc.)
• The number of passengers and amount of luggage in the vehicle
● The high beams may turn on or off unexpectedly.
● Bicycles or similar vehicles may not be detected.
● In the following situations the system may not be able to correctly detect the
surrounding  brightness  level.  This  may  cause  the  low  beams  to  r emain  on
or the high beams to flash or dazzle pedestrians or vehicles ah ead. In such
a case, it is necessary to manually switch between the high and  low beams. 

2694-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
WARNING
■Limitations of the pre-collision system
● The driver is solely responsible for safe driving. Always drive safely, taking
care to observe your surroundings. 
Do  not  use  the  pre-collision  system  instead  of  normal  braking  o perations
under any circumstances. This system will not prevent collision s or lessen
collision damage or injury in every situation. Do not overly re ly on this sys-
tem. Failure to do so may lead to an accident, resulting in dea th or serious
injury.
● Although  this  system  is  designed  to  help  avoid  a  collision  or  h elp  reduce
the impact of the collision, its effectiveness may change according to vari-
ous  conditions,  therefore  the  system  may  not  always  be  able  to  achieve
the same level of performance. 
Read  the  following  conditions  carefully.  Do  not  overly  rely  on  this  system
and always drive carefully.
• Conditions under which the system may operate even if there is  no pos-
sibility of a collision:  P. 274
• Conditions under which the system may not operate properly:  P. 277
● Do not attempt to test the operation of the pre-collision system yourself, as
the system may not operate properly, possibly leading to an acc ident.
■ Pre-collision braking
● When  the  pre-collision  braking  function  is  operating,  a  large  a mount  of
braking force will be applied.
● If the vehicle is stopped by the operation of the pre-collision braking func-
tion,  the  pre-collision  braking  function  operation  will  be  canceled  after
approximately 2 seconds. Depress the brake pedal as necessary.
● The pre-collision braking function may not operate if certain o perations are
performed  by  the  driver.  If  the  accelerator  pedal  is  being  depressed
strongly  or the  steering  wheel  is  being  turned,  the  system  may  determine
that  the  driver  is  taking  evasive  action  and  possibly  prevent  t he  pre-colli-
sion braking function from operating.
● In  some  situations,  while  the  pre-collision  braking  function  is   operating,
operation  of  the  function  may  be  canceled  if  the  accelerator  pedal  is
depressed  strongly  or  the  steering  wheel  is  turned  and  the  syst em  deter-
mines that the driver is taking evasive action.
● If the brake pedal is being depressed, the system may determine  that the
driver  is  taking  evasive  action  and  possibly  delay  the  operation  timing  of
the pre-collision braking function. 

2784-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_U• When  driving  in  inclement  weather  such  as  heavy  rain,  fog,  sno
w  or  a
sandstorm
• When the vehicle is hit by water, snow, dust, etc. from a vehicle ahead
• When driving through steam or smoke
• When driving in  a place where the  surrounding brightness changes  sud- denly, such as at the entrance or exit of a tunnel
• When  a  very  bright  light,  such  as  the  sun  or  the  headlights  of  oncoming
traffic, shines directly into the camera sensor
• When  the  surrounding  area  is  dim,  such  as  at  dawn  or  dusk,  or  while  at
night or in a tunnel
• After the engine has started the vehicle has not been driven for a certain amount of time
• While  making  a  left/right  turn  and  for  a  few  seconds  after  mak ing  a  left/
right turn
• While driving on a curve and for a few seconds after driving o n a curve
• If your vehicle is skidding
• If the wheels are misaligned
• If a wiper blade is blocking the camera sensor
• The vehicle is wobbling.
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely high speeds.
• When driving on a hill
• If the radar sensor or camera sensor is misaligned
● In some situations such as the following, sufficient braking fo rce may not be
obtained, preventing the system from performing properly:
• If  the  braking  functions  cannot  operate  to  their  full  extent,  such  as  when
the brake parts are extremely cold, extremely hot, or wet
• If  the  vehicle  is  not  properly  maintained  (brakes  or  tires  are   excessively
worn, improper tire inflation pressure, etc.)
• When  the  vehicle  is  being  driven  on  a  gravel  road  or  other  sli ppery  sur-
face
• If  the  front  of  the  vehicle  is  raised  or
lowered 

3605-1. Basic Operations
HIGHLANDER_U
Vo l u m e   s w i t c h• Increases/dec reases volume
• Press and hold: Continuously increases/decreases volume
Cursor switch (“ ” and “ ”)
• Selects  (radio  stations/radio presets/tracks/files/songs)
• Press  and  hold:  Fast  up/ down (radio stations)
• Fast up/down (tracks/files)
“MODE/HOLD” switch • Changes audio source
• Press and hold this switch to mute or pause the current operat ion
To cancel the mute or pause, press and hold.
Steering wheel audio switches
Some  audio  features  can  be  cont rolled  using  the  switches  on
the steering wheel.
Operation  may  differ  depending  on  the  type  of  audio  system  or
navigation system. For details,  refer to the manual provided with
the audio system or  navigation system.
Operating the audio system usi ng the steering wheel switches
1
12
3
WARNING
■To reduce the risk of an accident
Exercise care when operating the audio switches on the steering  wheel.